Chinese Proverbs
Discover 754+ famous Chinese proverbs and idioms (成语) with pinyin pronunciation, English translations, and the stories behind them — browse by topic, search the full A–Z collection, or start with today's featured saying.
Learning Chinese? More from the Hub:
Most Popular Chinese Proverbs
The sayings everyone knows — and why they matter
千里之行，始于足下
Qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià
"A journey of a thousand li begins beneath your feet"
塞翁失马，焉知非福
Sài wēng shī mǎ, yān zhī fēi fú
"When the old man from the frontier lost his horse, how could he know it was not a blessing?"
知己知彼，百战不殆
Zhī jǐ zhī bǐ, bǎi zhàn bù dài
"Know yourself and know your enemy; in a hundred battles you will never be in danger"
画蛇添足
Huà shé tiān zú
"To draw a snake and add feet to it"
滴水穿石
Dī shuǐ chuān shí
"Dripping water wears through stone"
授人以鱼不如授人以渔
Shòu rén yǐ yú bùrú shòu rén yǐ yú
"Giving someone a fish is not as good as teaching them to fish"
Classical Philosophers Series
Curated quotes from the foundational works of Chinese thought
Explore Collections
View alllove
Proverbs about love & romance
life
Proverbs about life & wisdom
funny
Funny proverbs & xiehouyu
time
Time, patience & persistence
wisdom
Wisdom & self-knowledge
money
Wealth done the right way
luck
Luck, fate & fortune
future
Hope & planning ahead
nature
Nature & the seasons
death
Mortality & legacy
kindness
Kindness & gratitude
patience
Chinese Proverbs About Patience & Perseverance
success
Chinese Proverbs About Success & Achievement
friendship
Chinese Proverbs About Friendship
family
Chinese Proverbs About Family
change
Chinese Proverbs About Change & Transformation
courage
Chinese Proverbs About Courage & Daring
weddings
Chinese Proverbs for Weddings & Marriage
health
Chinese Proverbs About Health & Longevity
learning
Chinese Proverbs About Learning & Education
other
Everything in between
Latest Proverbs
三季人
Sān jì rén
"A three-season person — someone whose experience is too narrow to argue with"
Read The Three-Season Person meaning
疑邻盗斧
Yí lín dào fǔ
"Suspecting the neighbor of stealing the axe — you see what you already believe"
Read Suspecting the Neighbor of Stealing the Axe meaning
问薪无愧
Wèn xīn wú kuì
"Asked about my salary, I feel no shame — a worker's honest self-mocking pun on 问心无愧 (clear conscience)"
Read Wen Xin Wu Kui — A Clear Conscience About Your Salary meaning
摸鱼
Mō yú
"Touching fish — slacking off at work while officially on the clock"
Read Mo Yu (摸鱼) — 'Touching Fish': The Art of Slacking at Work meaning
牛马
Niú mǎ
"Cattle and horses — a corporate worker's self-mocking name for their own exhausting job"
Read Niu Ma (牛马) — 'Beast of Burden': The Worker Meme Reviving an Old Phrase meaning
躺平
Tǎng píng
"Lying flat — opting out of the rat race: no overtime, no house-buying, no marriage, minimal everything"
Read Tang Ping (躺平) — 'Lying Flat': China's Quiet Refusal meaning
苦尽甘来
Kǔ jìn gān lái
"When the bitterness runs out, sweetness comes — hardship is the road to good times"
Read Bitterness Ends, Sweetness Comes meaning
上医治未病
Shàng yī zhì wèi bìng
"The highest doctor treats illness before it arises — prevention is the highest medicine"
Read The Best Doctor Treats Illness Before It Begins meaning
百炼成钢
Bǎi liàn chéng gāng
"Tempered through a hundred smeltings, iron becomes steel — repeated refinement turns the raw into the unbreakable"
Read A Hundred Smeltings into Steel meaning
兵不厌诈
Bīng bù yàn zhà
"In war, there is no such thing as too much deception — all is fair on the battlefield"
Read In War, Nothing Is Too Deceitful meaning
What Are Chinese Proverbs?
Chinese proverbs (谚语 yànyǔ or 成语 chéngyǔ) are concise sayings that encapsulate centuries of wisdom, cultural values, and practical life lessons. Some date back over 2,000 years. They continue to guide daily life in modern China and offer timeless insights for people worldwide.
Unlike English idioms, they often originate from classical literature, historical events, or philosophical texts like the Analects of Confucius and the Tao Te Ching. Each proverb carries layers of meaning: a literal translation, a figurative lesson, and often a deeper philosophical truth.
Why Learn Chinese Proverbs?
- Language Learning: Proverbs teach authentic Chinese expressions and cultural context that textbooks often miss.
- Cultural Understanding: Each proverb reveals values, history, and ways of thinking unique to Chinese civilization.
- Life Wisdom: These sayings offer practical guidance on relationships, success, patience, and resilience.
- Tattoos & Art: Many people choose these proverbs for tattoos because of their elegant characters and profound meanings.
Ready to dive in? Start with our complete A–Z directory of Chinese proverbs, or explore the featured collections below.
Popular Categories
Chinese proverbs cover every aspect of human experience. Our collection includes proverbs about love and relationships, life lessons, wisdom and philosophy, time and patience, luck and fortune, money and success, and more. Whether you're seeking guidance on romantic relationships or practical advice for achieving your goals, you'll find relevant wisdom in these ancient sayings. See the full list of Chinese proverbs with meanings and pinyin, or browse by topic below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous Chinese proverb?
One of the most famous Chinese proverbs is "千里之行，始于足下" (A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step). This saying, attributed to Laozi, emphasizes that even the greatest achievements start with small, immediate actions. It's widely quoted worldwide as encouragement to begin difficult tasks.
How many are there?
There are tens of thousands of Chinese proverbs and idioms (成语). The most comprehensive dictionaries contain over 50,000 entries, though only a few thousand are commonly used in modern Chinese. Our collection features the most meaningful and culturally significant proverbs with full translations and explanations.
What's the difference between 谚语 (yànyǔ) and 成语 (chéngyǔ)?
谚语 (yànyǔ) are folk sayings passed down orally, often reflecting common wisdom. 成语 (chéngyǔ) are four-character idiomatic expressions usually derived from classical literature. Both are considered "Chinese proverbs" in English, though 成语 are more formal and literary while 谚语 are more colloquial.
Are Chinese proverbs good for tattoos?
Chinese proverbs can make meaningful tattoos, but careful selection is essential. Some proverbs have cultural nuances that may not translate well as permanent body art. We recommend choosing proverbs with positive, universal meanings and consulting our tattoo guide for appropriate selections.
How do I pronounce them correctly?
Each proverb on our site includes pinyin (romanized pronunciation) with tone marks. Chinese is a tonal language, so the pitch of each syllable changes its meaning. We include accurate pinyin with all proverbs to help learners pronounce them correctly.
Proverbs vs quotes vs sayings vs idioms?
Proverbs (谚语) are complete folk sayings with a lesson; idioms (成语) are compact four-character expressions from classical sources; quotes (名言) are lines attributed to a specific author such as Confucius or Sun Tzu; sayings (俗语) are casual everyday expressions. Our collections cover all four — explore idioms, famous proverbs, and ancient sayings.
Is it "Chinese proverbs" or "chinese provervs"?
The correct spelling is Chinese proverbs — it's a common typo to write "chinese provervs" (with a v). If you landed here searching for that, you're in the right place: browse the full Chinese proverbs collection with pinyin, meanings, and origin stories.